Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff is set to join Portsmouth on a six-month loan deal, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper claim the central midfielder, 20, is heading to the League One club after a last-minute swoop convinced the player to head to the south coast.
The Chronicle report Longstaff held talks with Championship outfit Rotherham United amid widespread interest from Football League clubs.
OPINION
Longstaff is highly rated at Newcastle and regarded as one of the club’s best young prospects. He demonstrated his immense promise while on loan at Blackpool last season, scoring eight goals and supplying five assists in 42 league appearances. Little wonder there has been such interest in his services and Portsmouth will have done very well to land such an accomplished youngster who has the ability to dominate the midfield in England’s third tier. Under proven manager Kenny Jackett, Portsmouth are expected to be firmly in the promotion running next season and the club can also offer Longstaff the opportunity to play in front of 18,000 average home crowds and a rollocking atmosphere at Fratton Park. The high expectations at the south coast outfit will benefit Longstaff as he looks to make the leap from exciting young talent to senior star.